TEL AVIV — Researchers with the Movement Research Unit tracked 2,761 shipments to weapons manufacturers transported by United Airlines aboard 160 civilian passenger flights between July 24, 2025, and February 27, 2026. An analysis of 546 shipments by the Movement Research Unit found 28 shipments of tank parts, 131 shipments of parts for F-35 fighter jets, 67 shipments of components for other aircraft, and more than 100 other shipments of radio and communications equipment, nuts and bolts, and helmet-mounted display systems.

United Airlines plans to resume direct flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport to Tel Aviv starting in October 2026. United Airlines plans to resume direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tel Aviv starting in March 2027. United Airlines stated in August 2026 that its San Francisco to Tel Aviv flights will have the highest frequency of business class seats between the two cities of any airline. United Airlines has no codeshare agreements with any Israeli airline.

Why It Matters

The report alleges a sustained logistical link between a major U.S. carrier and military operations in the Middle East, citing specific cargo manifests and flight records. The scale of the alleged shipments, involving thousands of loads over seven months, prompts discussion about the classification and regulatory compliance of military components on civilian passenger flights.

The findings connect commercial aviation logistics to defense supply chains, with activists arguing that such transport enables foreign military actions. The report details shipments to specific defense contractors, including Elbit Systems, and identifies components for advanced weaponry such as the F-35 fighter jet.

Timeline

United Airlines has not operated direct flights between Newark and Tel Aviv since February 2026, prior to Operation Roaring Lion.

United Airlines flight UA84 from Newark Liberty International Airport landed at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Griffin Mahon, co-chair of the national labor committee of the Democratic Socialists of America, said, "This report shows that United, consistently and on a regular basis, ships military materiel that is used by the Israeli military for its operations in Gaza, in Lebanon, and against Iran." A report by Movement Research Unit, Palestinian Youth Movement, People’s Embargo for Palestine, and the Democratic Socialists of America states that United Airlines transported nearly 3,000 loads of military materiel over a seven-month period in 2025 and early 2026.

What's New

The Movement Research Unit report found no evidence that United Airlines transported any explicitly hazardous material aboard passenger flights. The leaked shipping records show that the 'Clamp' was exported on United Airlines flight UA870 on 10 December 2025, and it was clearly labeled as being for the 'JSF', the Joint Strike Fighter, and was marked as having been sent to Israel from '2314 Williamtown', which is the unique postcode address of RAAF Base Williamtown.

United Airlines flight UA90 is scheduled to transport five shipments of military cargo on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Belal Elsiesy, a spokesperson for Palestinian Youth Movement, said, "We’ve seen parts directly tied to the carrying out of the genocide, from armored tank sights and gunner display units to the bomb-release units of the F-35."

How Sources Differ

Regarding United Airlines flight UA90, the United Airlines flight schedule states that United Airlines flight UA90 departed Ben-Gurion Airport for Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The United Airlines cargo manifest states that one military cargo shipment on United Airlines flight UA90 is destined for the electro-optics wing of Elbit Systems in Rehovot, Israel.

The United Airlines cargo manifest states that one military cargo shipment on United Airlines flight UA90 is destined for Elbit Systems Land in Ramat Hasharon, Israel.

The United Airlines cargo manifest states that three military cargo shipments on United Airlines flight UA90 are destined for an Elbit Systems facility in Karmiel, Israel.

The United Airlines cargo manifest states that at least one shipment to Karmiel on United Airlines flight UA90 was labeled as 'FMS' (foreign military sales).